Week 14 NFL expert picks: Detroit Lions at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Three months ago, this Week 14 matchup between the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers probably looked like a potential huge matchup between NFC contenders. If most analysts had to pick at the time, they probably would have said the Bucs were the most likely team to still be in playoff contention at this point in the season.

But that’s not the case. The Buccaneers are essentially done, while the Lions may not be far behind.

That being said, NFL experts still aren’t too sure who they should be picking this week. Nationally speaking, it’s almost split directly in half.

National analysts:

ESPN: 7 of 10 picked Lions
SB Nation: 4 of 8 picked Lions
CBS Sports: 5 of 8 picked Lions
Pro Football Focus: 3 of 9 picked Lions
Sports Illustrated: 2 of 6 picked Lions

Total: 21 of 41 picked Lions (51.2%)

By one expert, the Lions are the more commonly picked team, but publications like PFF and Sports Illustrated favor Tampa on Sunday.

The scales are tipped a little more in the Lions’ favor locally.

Local analysts:

MLive: 1 of 2 picked Lions
Freep: 3 of 4 picked Lions
Detroit News: 2 of 4 picked Lions
Detroit Jock City: 6 of 8 picked Lions
Pride of Detroit: 7 of 10 picked Lions

Total: 19 of 28 picked Lions (67.9%)

Interestingly enough, however, the beat writers only picked Detroit in six of 10 instances. The blogs, ourselves and Detroit Jock City, seem to be the true believers in the Lions this week.

What do you think? Vote in the poll below: